Peru, or Republica del Peru as it’s officially known, covers an area of 1.285.216km2, including 4997m2 of the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca and not including 95km2 of the islands in the Pacific Ocean. In size Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. It’s bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean (a 2400km long coastline), Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and Chile to the south.

Peru has three geographical regions, from west to east: the Costa, the Sierra and the Selva. The Costa covers a large desert-like region along the rocky Pacific coast and the western flanks of the Andes mountains (which over about 11% of Peru). The Costa coastline is one of the driest regions on earth; some areas have rainfall only once or twice a year. Together with the Atacama desert in Chile its one of the largest deserts in the world. The coastal plains are about 160km wide in the north (sand desert of Sechura), further south it’s 30-100km wide. The landscape is made up of vast arid plains and sand dunes and lower foothills of the Andes.

The Sierra includes the Andes mountains, which consists of two chains that run north to south; the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. The Andes highlands cover about 33% of the country and stretch about 240km – 400km in width. In the north the two Cordilleras run very close together, broadening out to the south to form the Altiplano plateau between the two mountain ranges. The Altiplano is one of the largest high plateaus in the world, at an average height of 4000m and stretching all the way to southern Bolivia. Its most famous feature is Lake Titicaca. The Cordillera Maritima runs all the way to the west coast and includes several volcanoes like the Misti (5822m) at Arequipa. The Cordillera Occidental is a rugged mountain chain with glaciers and peaks reaching over 6000m in the Cordillera Blanca, including the Huascaran Sur which at 6768m is the highest peak in Peru. In the Cordillera Blanca you’ll also find Peru’s second highest peak the Huascaran Norte (6665m). The Cordillera Oriental is characterised by several cross valleys called quebradas. The Andes were once below sea level, proof of which can be found in the marine fossils and shells found above 5000m. The Andes were formed by the tectonic forces of the Nazca Plate and Antartic Plate, a process that continues today causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the region. To the northwest of Arequipa lies the Canon del Colca, one of the deepest ravines in the world with a depth of 3182m.

Population:	28 millon
Capital city:	Lima, apprx 8.5 million inhabitants
Official languages:	Spanish, Quechua, Aymara and Guarani (the latter spoken only by indigenous Indian tribes). There are many other dialects, especially in the Amazon region. English is widely spoken in the major tourist centres, but a Spanish dictionary can come in handy to get into contact with the locals.
Electricity:	Voltage is 220V. There are different plugs, so bring a travel adapter.
Time zone:	GMT -5. Peru has no daylight saving time
Phone calls:	Calling abroad from Peru: Dial 00 and then the rest of the number. Peru country code: 51. Contact your mobile phone provider for current information on rates
Internet:	Internet cafes can be found across the country, costs approx. 0.60 - 1 Sol per minute.
Reconfirming flights:	Essential, especially for domestic flights as altered departure times and overbooking are commonplace.
Departure tax:	To be paid on departure: US $ 25 for international flights or US $ 2,- for domestic flights.

Bolivia, or Republica de Bolivia as it’s officially known, is landlocked by five other South American countries; Brazil to the east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, Chile to the west and Peru to the north. Bolivia was once double its current size, reaching all the way to the Pacific coast, but saw large chunks of its land seized by neighbouring countries over the centuries. In 1880 Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile during the Pacific War, though Lake Titicaca more than makes up for that loss of ocean shoreline. Titicaca is the highest, navigable inland sea in the world. Its sapphire blue water, floating reed islands and pre-Inca ruins are one of the major draws of the country. In size Bolivia ranks 5th on the South-American continent, covering 1.098.581 km2, about 4 times the size of the UK.

Bolivia lies in the heart of the Andes mountain range that runs north to south across the South American continent. The Bolivian Andes is made up of two parallel mountain chains, separated by the Altiplano high plateau at approximately 4000m. The eastern mountain chain is called the Cordillera Oriental and has peaks over 6500m. The western chain is the Cordillera Occidental, characterised by volcanic activity and arid desert-like regions. Several volcanoes can be found along the Chilean border, including the highest peak in Bolivia the Sajama (6700m). The lowest point in Bolivia is at Rio Paraguay, 90m above sea level. The Altiplano plateau borders Lake Titicaca in the north and the desert regions and salt lakes in the south. Lake Titicaca lies at 3810m above sea level, covers about 880km2 and is up to 400m deep. The border with Peru runs straight across the lake. The Altiplano was once below sea level, proof of which is found in fossil shells, coral and marine life found high up on the plateau. The eastern regions of Bolivia are characterised by mountains and deep valleys called yungas.

To the south the Altiplano runs down to the ‘lower’ lying (still 2000m- 3000m altitude) valley region (valles), and eventually the Amazon basin. This is where you’ll find the Amazon rainforest or ‘Oriente’, and further south the grassy plains of the pampas. The south-west of Bolivia has vast saltpetre deserts and salt marshes.

Population:	8.8 million
Capital:	Sucre,  approx 300.000 inhabitants. Parliamentary seat is in La Paz (population 2.4 million)
Official languages:	Spanish, Quechua, Aymara and Guarani (the latter spoken only by indigenous Indian tribes). There are many other dialects. especially in the Amazon region. English is rarely spoken even in the major tourist centres so make sure you carry a Spanish dictionary.
Electricity:	Bolivia has both 110V and 220V so check first! There are also different plugs, so bring a travel adapter
Time zone:	GMT -5. Bolivia has no daylight saving time
Phone calls:	Calling abroad from Bolivia: Dial 00 and then the rest of the number. Bolivia country code: 591. Contact your mobile phone provider for current information on rates
Internet:	Internet cafes can be found in most major tourist centres, relatively cheap rates.
Reconfirming flights:	Essential, especially for domestic flights as altered departure times and overbooking are commonplace.
Departure tax:	To be paid on departure: US $ 25 for international flights or US $5,- for domestic flights.